UNESCO Designates 13 New Global Geoparks in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America

UNESCO's Executive Board, in a momentous decision, has officially recognized 13 additional Geoparks that illuminate the immense geological diversity present across our planet. The global network now proudly boasts 140 UNESCO Global Geoparks spanning 38 countries. Here's an introduction to these newly designated sites:

1. Famenne-Ardenne, Belgium

The Famenne-Ardenne Geopark, Belgium, showcases three distinctive elements within its landscape. Famenne, to the north, presents a vast depression with a schistose bedrock. The Ardennes, to the south, form a substantial plateau predominantly comprised of sandstone rocks. In between these two, the Calestienne reveals a limestone foundation, rich in karst features. The karst formations in this region, featuring vanishing and reappearing rivers, sinkholes, and remarkable caves, have played a pivotal role in shaping the ongoing human activities. The limestone-rich water also plays an integral part in brewing the renowned 'Rochefort Trappist' beer.

2. Percé, Canada

The Percé Geopark, situated in Canada, is nestled within the vast Appalachian Mountain range of eastern North America. The geological history of this area, in relation to mountain formation, magmatic events, and tectonic forces, traces back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods approximately 150 million years ago. Over the past twenty millennia, during the most recent Ice Age, the Quebec segment of this mountain range has been sculpted by glacial forces, ultimately shaping the current landscape. This territory is a haven for diverse flora and fauna. Key economic activities in Percé revolve around tourism, fishing, and forestry.

3. Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe, China

The Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe Geopark is situated in Bazhong City, Sichuan Province, China. Positioned at the confluence of the southern Central Orogenic Belt (Qinling) and Yangtze Block, the area boasts a stunning array of natural landscapes, including karst and tectonic formations, waterfalls, and ponds. It holds significant importance for analyzing the geological evolution of peripheral basins, thanks to its location in the transition zone between the southern and northern karst landforms. Winding through this breathtaking landscape is the celebrated Micang Ancient Road, over two millennia old, connecting Shaanxi and Sichuan Provinces. The route is steeped in the history and cultures of various dynasties.

4. Huanggang Dabieshan, China

Huanggang Dabieshan Geopark, nestled in Hubei Province, eastern China, provides valuable insights into the geological evolution of the region, particularly the collision between the tectonic plates of North China and the Yangtze. The ancient continental core of the mountain range, which resulted from this collision, is a combination of garnet-biotite-gneiss and greenstone belt (Muzidian Group). These rocks were formed under high pressure and temperature, more than 2.8 billion years ago. The region's remarkable biological diversity designates it as one of China's Seven Major Gene Pools.

5. Beaujolais, France

The Beaujolais Geopark, located in France, is internationally renowned for its twelve protected vineyard appellations. Yet, the Beaujolais region harbors other remarkable geological and cultural treasures. The complex geology of Beaujolais, which took shape over 500 million years, underpins a rich diversity of landscapes, natural habitats, and local construction materials. The geological heritage and history of Beaujolais have left a profound impact on the lives and culture of its inhabitants, a legacy that persists today.

6. Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu, Indonesia

The Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark, nestled in West Java, Indonesia, draws its name from the Ciletuh River and Palabuhanratu (Queen harbor), which stems from a legend about a South Ocean Queen believed to be the guardian of the area. The Geopark's oldest rocks resulted from subduction processes between the Eurasian and Indian Ocean tectonic plates. The region is home to three village communities that continue to uphold their ancestral Kasepuhan traditions, particularly in agriculture and paddy farming, known as "tatanen."

7. Rinjani Lombok, Indonesia

Lombok Island, with its nearly circular shape and a 70-kilometer peninsula, stands as one of the Sunda Kecil Islands, situated between Bali and Sumbawa. The geological profile of Lombok Island is dominated by Quaternary calc-alkaline volcanoes covering Neogene clastic sedimentary rocks, Oligo-Miocene volcanics, and Palaeogene-aged intrusive igneous rocks. This volcanic complex's formation was a consequence of the Indian Ocean tectonic plate's subduction under the South East Asia tectonic plate's edge. The Sasak population of Lombok is characterized by its multi-ethnic and multicultural identity, reflected in the architecture of temples and old mosques.

8. Izu Peninsula, Japan

The Izu Peninsula Geopark, located in the southeast of Honshu Island, Japan, is a unique confluence of two active volcanic arcs, where ongoing phenomena are associated with tectonic plate collisions. The area has witnessed an uninterrupted volcanic history over the past 20 million years. The presence of geothermal activity has bestowed this region with some of Japan's most renowned hot springs. Izu Peninsula has also been subjected to various natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, all of which have shaped local beliefs and led to the construction of over 90 shrines scattered across the Geopark.

9. Mudeungsan Area, Republic of Korea

The Mudeungsan Area Geopark is centered around Mudeung Mountain, majestically overlooking Gwangju City. The mountain has held a prominent place in the spiritual beliefs of the people of Jeollanam-do, formerly Honam, who consider mountaintops as celestial altars. The Geopark's geoheritage encompasses diverse elements, from large polygonal jointed tuff columns marking three phases of Cretaceous volcanic activity to periglacial-produced landforms, unique microclimatic environments, dinosaur footprints and trackways, and a variety of other geological and geomorphological features.

10. Conca de Tremp Montsec, Spain

Conca de Tremp Montsec Geopark, located in the northeast of Spain, in close proximity to the French and Andorran borders, features east-west oriented mountain ranges and basins. This alignment corresponds to multiple overthrust nappes comprising the southern slope of the Central Pyrenees. The geological record within this region spans 550 million years and offers a rich natural heritage recognized on an international scale. The area serves as a natural laboratory for sedimentology, tectonics, external geodynamics, paleontology, ore deposits, and soil science, encompassing the evolution of life on Earth from the Permian to the Palaeogene, including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fossils.

11. Ngorongoro Lengai, Tanzania

The Ngorongoro Lengai Geopark in Tanzania is distinguished by its crown jewel, the Ngorongoro Crater, a haven of incredible biodiversity. Within this vast natural amphitheater, one can encounter majestic creatures like elephants, black rhinos, lions, graceful gazelles, and numerous other large mammals coexisting harmoniously with humanity. At the northern tip of the Ngorongoro Volcanic Highland lies the Oldoinyo Lengai, known as the 'Mountain of God' or 'Holy Mountain' in the Maasai language. This stratovolcano, standing at 2,962 meters, holds the title of the youngest and most active in the region. It erupts natrocarbonatite lava, a composition exceptionally low in silicon, making it truly unique. Furthermore, the Olduvai Gorge, arguably the world's most important paleoanthropological site, unveils volcanic beds formed during the Pliocene Epoch. These beds provide an unparalleled record of ancient environments, featuring hominid fossils and an array of Middle and Late Stone Age artifacts, along with an extensive assortment of fossilized fauna.

12. Satun, Thailand

Nestled in the serene embrace of natural beauty, Satun Geopark, Thailand, is celebrated as a sanctuary for diverse cultures and communities. Here, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and smaller groups such as the Semung or Maniq and Urak Lawoi (or Chao le in the Thai language) coexist harmoniously in this tranquil environment. This region is renowned for its wealth of Palaeozoic fossils, characterized by their abundance, rich diversity, and the remarkable succession of fossils, including trilobites, brachiopods, stromatolites, conodonts, graptolites, tentaculites, and nautiloids. The primary economic activities of its inhabitants revolve around agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and local businesses.

13. Cao Bang, Vietnam

In the northeastern mountainous terrain of Vietnam lies the Cao Bang Geopark, a geological tapestry divided into two distinct regions by the Cao Bang-Tien Yen deep-seated active fault. The eastern segment features Palaeozoic limestones, while the western portion showcases sedimentary rocks, pillow basalts, ultra-mafic formations, granitic intrusions teeming with minerals, and the traces of hydrothermal alterations. Home to a diverse population representing nine distinct ethnic groups, each preserving rich cultural traditions and unique identities, this geopark stands as a testament to both natural wonder and human heritage.

UNESCO Global Geoparks serve as territories championing geodiversity through community-driven initiatives aimed at fostering regional sustainable development, especially through sustainable tourism. These geoparks also play a pivotal role in raising awareness about climate change and natural disasters while assisting local communities in crafting strategies for disaster mitigation. The UNESCO designation empowers designated sites and their communities to elevate the worth of their geological and human heritage, fostering heightened awareness activities and promoting the exchange of experiences and best practices within the Global Geopark Network.